Golf club head or other ball striking device having impact-influencing body features

A golf club head comprising:

• a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball;
• a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face, the body having a crown, a sole, a heel, and a toe;
• an elongated channel extending across a portion of the sole in a heel to toe direction, wherein the channel is recessed from adjacent surfaces of the sole and has a depth of recession from the adjacent surfaces of the sole, wherein the channel comprises a center portion extending across a center of the sole, a heel portion extending from a heel end of the center portion toward the heel, and a toe portion extending from a toe end of the center portion toward the toe;
• and a void defined on the sole of the body and a cover defining a top of the void;
• and a first external rib and a second external rib wherein each external rib is connected to the cover and extends downward from the cover, such that the external ribs are positioned within the void, wherein each of the external ribs further comprise an upper portion, a lower portion, a front portion, a rear portion, and a central portion, wherein the channel has a front edge, a rear edge, and a width defined between the front and rear edges, wherein the width of the center portion of the channel is substantially constant, and wherein the front and rear edges of the channel are angled away from each other at the heel portion and the toe portion, such that the width of the channel at the heel and toe portions increases from the heel end of the center portion toward the heel and from the toe end of the center portion toward the toe, wherein the depth of the channel is greater at the heel and toe portions than at the center portion, and further wherein the body and the face combine to define an internal cavity, with a to surface of the cover partially defining the internal cavity, such that a portion of the internal cavity is positioned between the cover and the crown.